BACOLOD City – The upcoming MassKara Festival will attract hundreds of tourists, which may provide an avenue for drug peddlers to sell and distribute party drugs.
Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella authored a resolution urging the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to intensify the enforcement of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, to prevent the sale, use and distribution of party drugs and other contrabands during the festival.
Puentevella said this is for the safety and well-being of the youth and the general public.
The MassKara Festival will kick off on Oct. 1 and will run until Oct. 23. A MassKara kick-off “salubong” (bisperas) will be held on the evening of Sept. 30 until midnight.
This year’s celebration has six festival sites — the Bacolod City Public Plaza, Bacolod City Government Center, Panaad Park and Stadium, Lacson Street, Baywalk Area, and the Megaworld-Upper East.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez said this year’s celebration is a “first” under his administration and would be unique, exciting and entertaining after it was suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mayor is targeting 200,000 tourist arrivals during the comeback of the festival./PN
